Getting more Detailed
A population-based approach addresses factors beyond the health system to improve community well-being, while an equity-based approach focuses on groups disproportionately affected by systemic barriers. In York Region, diverse demographics include 47.8% immigrants, 14.6% single-parent households, and 4.7% widowed, highlighting groups at higher risk for chronic loneliness.
A population-based approach means that looking broadly at the complex and interrelated factors beyond the health system to impact the population (community). An equity-based approach means looking at groups that are disproportionately harmed by structural barriers or systemic inequities. A living, dynamic balance is sought between achieving breadth and depth of impact, and through enhancements and by mitigating harm.
1
Identify the populations that make up your community.
E.g. According to the Statistics Canada, the York Regional Health Unit has a population of 1,173,335 people. The full data set is available here.
- 66.7% are aged 15 to 64
- 16.3% are aged 0 to 14
- 17% are aged 65 and up
- Immigrants make up 47.8% of the population
- 16.4% of the population live by themselves.
- 14.6% of family households are 1-parent families
- 14.3% of private households report an after-tax income of less than $40,000, in a region where the median after-tax income for households is $97,000.
- 5.9% of the population do not understand English (nor French)
2
Highlight populations that are at higher risk for chronic loneliness. Inequities and risk factors may vary from region to region.
- 0.5% of the population identify as Indigenous
- 1% of the population are migrants from outside of Canada (data from 2020)
- 265 individuals reported speaking sign language most often at home, of which 50 use a sign language other than ASL
- 4.7% of the population is widowed
- 4.8% are divorced
- 2.1% are separated
- 2% are aged 85 and up
*Statistics Canada: Given that the non-binary population is small, data aggregation to a two-category gender variable is sometimes necessary to protect the confidentiality of responses provided. In these cases, non-binary persons are distributed into the other two gender categories and are denoted by the "＋" symbol. "Men＋" includes men (and/or boys), as well as some non-binary persons. "Women＋" includes women (and/or girls), as well as some non-binary persons.
Have a question or have some feedback?
Get in Touch